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Chi Rho Reflection for the Week of January 30, 2011

Chi Rho Reflection for the Week of January 30, 2011 ********** As one of the on-going ministries of Chi Rho Press, here is a selection from our book of daily

Message 1 of 1
, Jan 30, 2011

Chi Rho Reflection for the Week of January 30, 2011

**********

As one of the on-going ministries of Chi Rho Press,
here is a selection from our book of daily devotions,
"Living as the Beloved: One Day at a Time," by the
Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok.

Please read the Scripture passage and Dr. Bochonok's
meditation. We hope you will be blessed.

Thank you for forwarding this to your friends.

Pray at all times

"Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and
supplication. To that end keep alert and always
persevere in supplication for all the saints."
Ephesians 6:18

Today's scripture reminds us to pray in the power
of the Holy Spirit at all times. I need to be alert
and pray with perseverance for all the saints. I
understand this intellectually, but I need help to
practice this in my prayer life. Sometimes I simply
do not know how or for what to pray. I also get
lazy in prayer. My mind wanders. My attention
span is fitful.

My associate pastor knows the benefits of spiritual
vigilance and has successfully helped church members
benefit from it in daily life. Several years ago,
my church organized a twenty-four hour prayer vigil
for the new year. People signed up around the clock
and the church was filled with people praying. The
preacher called people to leave their baggage of the
past year behind. A new year had new baggage for
them to carry. Let the old go and take up the new.
Several saints felt called to give up smoking during
their prayer vigils. One had smoked cigarettes for
more than forty years. She had been told if she does
not give up the nicotine, the nicotine would have her
life in five years or less. Another had been a heavy
smoker for twenty-four years. She cannot remember
being a non-smoker. Both quit cold turkey at midnight.
They stepped out in faith to leave old self-destructive
habits behind. Both have resumed smoking and feel
spiritually defeated. They struggle daily with
nicotine addiction.

I sympathize because I used to be a heavy smoker. It
took years before I eventually was able to stop smoking.
Even after fifteen years of nonsmoking, I resolve each
and every day to be smoke free one day at a time. Just
as many struggle with drugs and alcohol, I struggled
with cigarettes. I sometimes wonder how many people
patiently and quietly prayed for me during the years
I struggled with my nicotine addiction. I will never
know. But I do know this if people had not prayed for
me, I would still be smoking today.

Never underestimate the power of your prayers. Pray
often for others. Pray with alertness, compassion,
patience, and perseverance. Pray with Holy Spirit
power. You may save someone's life through your
prayers.

God, hear the cries and struggles of our hearts.
Teach us to pray constantly in the Spirit and in
our spirits, with renewed alertness, dedication,
and perseverance for others and ourselves. Amen.

Grace and peace,

Chi Rho Press

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